Since seceding from Yugoslavia in 1991, Croatia have emerged as a force in international football. They qualified in their debut UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup campaigns, finishing third at France '98 where Davor Šuker was the six-goal top scorer. Croatia have become final tournament regulars, missing out only twice – in 2000 and 2010 – but have progressed beyond the group stage on just one further occasion, at UEFA EURO 2008. They qualified for the UEFA EURO 2016 finals – their fourth in a row – as runners-up to Italy in Group H.

UEFA EURO 2012 was Croatia's fourth European final tournament in five attempts since the break-up of Yugoslavia, their only failure coming in 2000. Inspired by three-goal Šuker, Miroslav Blažević's 1996 vintage reached the last eight in their maiden finals appearance, and the semi-finals beckoned in 2008 before Turkey's last-gasp equaliser and then defeat in the penalty shoot-out. There was more disappointment four years later as Slaven Bilić's side were narrowly edged out of a tough group by Spain and Italy, the eventual finalists.

Croatia, of course, also contributed players to the Yugoslavia team that twice finished runners-up at the UEFA European Championship. They lost the inaugural showpiece 2-1 in extra time against the Soviet Union in 1960 and went down 2-0 to hosts Italy in a final replay eight years later.

Did you know?Croatia finished above an Italy side fresh from finishing runners-up at the 1994 World Cup in their first major tournament qualifying campaign, advancing to EURO '96 where they were one of a record six teams making their finals debut.

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